VA
  • TGT on YouTube
  • About TGT
  • The TGT Team
  • How TGT rates
  • Responsible Gambling Advice
  • Contact Our Team
  • Writers Wanted
  • Content Disclaimer
  • Affiliate Disclosure
Contains commercial content
Billboard Left
Billboard Left
The Grueling Truth - Where Legends Speak / The Defining – The NBA Finals

The Defining – The NBA Finals

The Defining
Publish Date: 06/09/2017
Fact checked by: Mark Lewis

Legacies are defined and greatness is measured by how many times victory is achieved in the NBA Finals. For the past three years, we have seen a real old-fashioned rivalry. These two teams have gone head up an astonishing 20 times in three years. A clash of modern day titans. One man chasing Jordan and one team chasing his Bulls.

But in order to have a defining moment, you must first be tested. The Warriors have rarely been tested in the last three years, let alone this year. In their last 31 games, the Warriors have only lost once. By his own admission in the post-game press conference, Steph Curry would admit “It’s been awhile since we’ve played in such a close game.”
Quicken Loans Arena was the site of game three. Every bit the hostile environment a home crowd is supposed to be. Cleveland fans heckled Draymond Green’s mother in the stands to the point CPD was involved. 
Draymond Green’s mom gets confronted by pathetic Cavaliers fans
It was loud it was raucous and the crowd had every bit the impact on the game that its Cavaliers did.
LeBron James is facing the end of his run. At 32 years of age, the King is no longer on the upswing and this Golden State team with another victory stands to become the greatest three year run in NBA history. James and his team fueled, by the energy of “The land”, played the best game of the season. The defense forced turnovers, was nasty, and played as aggressively as could possibly be strangely officiated.
With a full battery of teammates contributing in every way imaginable, James battered the Warriors with drive after drive. Switching up his style in game three, James began raining three after three on the Warriors. Finishing with a game high 39 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists, it became clear to the Warriors in the third quarter that the continued necessity of singularly Herculean efforts had robbed James of his legs. But having failed his team in games one and two, Kyrie Irving was a fully costumed Robin to James’ Batman.
Irving was magnificent in his own right, having previously been unable to shake the confining presence of Klay Thompson. Irving went off, scoring a total 38 points. In the third quarter where the Warriors usually dominate their opponents, the Cavaliers would finally take control and win the quarter +11. With his barrage of spectacular plays and lethal shooting the Cavaliers looked poised to take game three and reenter this series.
“I caught LeBron walking off at the end of the third quarter and you could just tell he was exhausted.” – Draymond Green
And it was precisely at this moment when the Warriors realized the Cavaliers were nearly finished.
The defining moment came with about 0:45 left to go in the game with the Warriors down one. KD dribbled the ball up court with James in front of him. In a sequence that can only be described as “as cool as the other side of the pillow”, with the game on the line, Durant trotted down the court and pulled up. Draining the go-ahead three right in Lebron James’ face. Redeeming himself for losing to James’ Heat in the Finals years ago. Validating his reason for leaving OKC in the first place. Joining a team that could beat the Cavaliers and win a title.
Defensively, the Warriors have been like watching a bullfight. The bull comes in, its majesty looking every bit the unconquerable beast. But slowly, through teamwork, cunning, and execution, the Cavaliers have given their absolute best and come up short.
More than anything, the Warriors have benefited from Kevin Durant’s slashing ability, the pick and roll and outside shooting presence. While this series is by no means over, 3-0 isn’t 4-0 by any stretch of the imagination. The Cavaliers still don’t have an answer for a few basic questions that have them on the brink of being swept away in another of Golden State’s historical conquests.
Follow us on Twitter @chocP3thunder and @GruelingTruth and Like us on Facebook
Billboard Left
Billboard Left
Read Also
17 Reasons Why Michael Jordan is Greater than LeBron James
I'd like to begin by stating that I do not automatically label ...
Come Fly with me: How the 1988-89 Chicago Bulls pushed forward to an NBA dynasty.
Find the best sportsbook to bet on the NBA Playoffs! Prologue: By ...
BetMGM Promo
Esteban de Jesus, Roberto Duran y AIDS (1972-89)
Many of us dream of celebrity sports fame, but only cruel individuals ...
What is the Best Decade of Basketball in NBA History?
15Every NBA player and fan thinks that their generation of basketball was ...
Ranking the top 70 free agents in the 2021 NBA offseason
The 2021 NBA Playoffs are in full swing, which means many teams ...
Top 100 remaining 2021 NFL free agents after Day 1
This is the most up-to-date list of available NFL free agents following ...
Ranking the top 200 players in the NFL ahead of the 2021 season
This list isn’t based solely on performances from the 2020 NFL season. ...
Top 100 NFL free agents entering the 2021 offseason
Below is a list of the top 100 free agents available this ...
The Army Boxer Who Knocked-Down Muhammad Ali (1960)
I had wanted to write a boxing story about Junebug Hudson for ...
Sportsbook of the month
PointsBet - Get your Bonus Bet now! Get your Bonus Bet now!
Top Brands
Top Bonuses
Stake.us
Stake.us
Stake.us Review
4.6/5
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas Review
4.6/5
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins Review
4.5/5
Golden Hearts Games
Golden Hearts Games
Golden Hearts Games Review
4.5/5
Pulsz.com
Pulsz.com
Pulsz.com Review
4.5/5
Stake.us
Stake.us Bonus
5% Rakeback
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas Bonus
30 SCs on 1st Purchase + 4.5 SCs FREE
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins Bonus
Get up to GC 360,000 + Free FC1,000
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Golden Hearts Games
Golden Hearts Games Bonus
Get $5 extra in FREE play
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Pulsz.com
Pulsz.com Bonus
5,000 Gold Coins + 2.3 Sweepstakes Coins
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Latest News
Drew Allar taking over as the signal caller at Penn State
Happy Valley Is Witnessing A Change As Sean ...
The State of Indiana’s Top 20 Basketball players of all time
This list will comprise anybody born in Indiana ...
Lopez vs. Conlan & Lara vs. Wood 2: Featherweight Festivities 
  The Mexican invasion commences this Saturday in ...
Betting Tips
05/27/2023 - 8:30 pm
Kaseya Arena
Tip:
Celtics to Cover
Celtics -3
FanDuel
05/25/2023 - 8:30 pm
TD Garden
Tip:
Miami to Cover
7.50
FanDuel
05/16/2023 - 8:30 pm
Ball Arena
Tip:
Nuggets to Cover
-5.50
FanDuel
Our Latest YouTube Videos
Video: Boxing History 101: Randall
Boxing History 101: Randall "Tex" Cobb the Man who shut up Howard Cosell
Video: 1919 Cincinnati Reds: True Champions
1919 Cincinnati Reds: True Champions
Video: Boxing History 101: Abe Attell A Complex Champion
Boxing History 101: Abe Attell A Complex Champion
Sportsbook of the month
PointsBet - Get your Bonus Bet now! Get your Bonus Bet now!
Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week....
Top Online Casinos
Top Casinos Bonuses
Stake.us
Stake.us
Stake.us Review
4.6/5
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas Review
4.6/5
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins Review
4.5/5
Golden Hearts Games
Golden Hearts Games
Golden Hearts Games Review
4.5/5
Pulsz.com
Pulsz.com
Pulsz.com Review
4.5/5
Stake.us
Stake.us Bonus
5% Rakeback
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas Bonus
30 SCs on 1st Purchase + 4.5 SCs FREE
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins Bonus
Get up to GC 360,000 + Free FC1,000
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Golden Hearts Games
Golden Hearts Games Bonus
Get $5 extra in FREE play
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Pulsz.com
Pulsz.com Bonus
5,000 Gold Coins + 2.3 Sweepstakes Coins
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Top Betting Sites
Top Betting Bonuses
FanDuel
FanDuel
FanDuel Review
4.8/5
PointsBet
PointsBet
PointsBet Review
4.6/5
Bet365
Bet365
Bet365 Review
4.5/5
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com Review
4.5/5
Unibet
Unibet
Unibet Review
4.5/5
FanDuel
FanDuel Bonus
Get up to $1,000 back in bonus bets
T&Cs apply
4.8/5
PointsBet
PointsBet Bonus
5 x $50Bet Credits
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Bet365
Bet365 Bonus
Bet $1 & Get $200 in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Bet $1 and Get $200 in Bonus Bets at bet365. Deposit required. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com Bonus
100% up to $500
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Unibet
Unibet Bonus
100% up to $100
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Our Team
Mike GoodpasterAuthor IconJosh SchwartzSamuel TeetsSimon Briffa
+8
Mike Goodpaster
Mike Goodpaster
Chief Editor
Author Icon
Christopher Carlson
Content Writer
Josh Schwartz
Josh Schwartz
Editor
Samuel Teets
Samuel Teets
US Sports Veteran
Simon Briffa
Simon Briffa
Sports Editor
Mark Lewis
Mark Lewis
Editor
Chris Benedict
Chris Benedict
Editor
Author Icon
Malik Zorrok
Author
Author Icon
Daniel Kornhauser
Author
John Raspanti
John Raspanti
Author
Author Icon
Buddy Gibbs
Author
Brian Coburn
Brian Coburn
Author
Peter Bonahoom
Peter Bonahoom
Author
Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week....

If you enjoy hearing from the legends of pro sports, then be sure to tune into “The Grueling Truth” sports shows, “Where the legends speak”

Contact us: contact@thegruelingtruth.com

Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.

This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.

21+NCPG
Move to Top
Close
Stake.us Exclusive Bonus
5% Rakeback
Promo Code
Copy
Visit Site
T&Cs apply, 18+
Payment Methods
Bitcoin
Litecoin
Ethereum
Dogecoin
Highlights
  • Exclusive promo code: TGTSOCIAL
  • Play Plinko, Hilo, Crash and more!
  • Get Stake Cash bonuses every day!
Stake Originals
Dice
Crash
Plinko
Mines
×
Your Promo Code:
The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link:
Visit Site